France Gold 20 Francs

1865 Napoleon III 20 Franc Gold

.900 Gold

The first franc was a gold coin struck in 1360 when King John
was freed. It showed King John in armour on horseback, and was known as a franc à
cheval. The word franc meaning free, but also referring to the Frankish people. Franc coins
fell into disuse after 1642, until they were revived during the revolutionary period in
1795, when a decimal currency system was introduced. This was the world's first decimal
currency system, although America had proposed it in 1781.

Mintage2,951,000

Issued from 1861 to 1870 with the 'A' mintmark which denotes the Paris Mint.
The obverse pictures a laureate bust of Emperor Napoleon III ( Born:1808 - Died:1873 ).
Below the base of the bust is the engraver's name Barre with privy mark of a hand
above.
The reverse has the value 20 FR which appears at the sides of the crowned Imperial arms.
The date appears below with the mintmark to the left and the anchor privy mark to the
right.